Fusing natural elements with man-made materials, sculptor and fine artist David Safhay creates an astonishing range of distinctly inventive works in various media. Presented by Imagination in Space — in partnership with Parasol Projects — David Safhay‘s first New York City solo show remains on view at 2 Rivington Street through Saturday. Here’s a glimpse:
Nefertiti, Bone, fossil, shells, stone, epoxy
Witch’s Brew, Bone, found objects, shell, colored pencil, epoxy
Glyphtich, 1 of 3, Formica color core laminate, cherry wood, ebony inlay
Psychedelic Relic, Polythermal clay baked on composite abhor vitae skeleton
Photos: 1 courtesy of Imagination in Space founder Greg Spielberg (pictured above); 2, 4 and 5 Lois Stavsky; 3 City-as-School intern Diana Davidova
Note: First image pictured, Composition of Compositions, walnut casing, wood, iron, rock, fossil, mixed media
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I want to thank Lois, Diana, and the folks at Street Art NYC for their kind attentions. It is nice to know that they “get” my work. I should never have left New York. It feels great to be back in my old stomping grounds of the Lower East Side where my fancy was first taking flight. Sincerely, Dave Safhay
Cooper Union had a lot to do with my growth as an artist here. If you ever saw my “Victorian Burlesque” on my website, you would see a walnut liqueur box that I used as a found object in that sculpture. That walnut case came from the wholesale antique district around 4th Ave and 11th St. when I was walking to Cooper from my apt. on 12th street every day. I saw that box in the window and had to have it for a sculpture I was dreaming up where the box would look like it continued growing in walnut. This was the first “Organic” or “Supranatural” piece I ever created way back in 1976. Little did I know that I would revisit this concept in a big way from 2005 to the present culmination of “The Composition of Compositions” that I just finished last month. “Victorian Burlesque” may have been an orphan then, but now it is the solid precursor of my main aesthetic thrust. So “Made on the Lower East Side” is actually true in this case of the case! – DSafhay